Sloper



March 1o, 1959 E. v. BRK-:COE 2,876,564

SLOPER Filed April 19, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 B2244229- @R4/)M March 10, 1959 E. v. RlscoE l,2,876,564

SLOPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 19, 1957 March 10, 1959 E. v. BRlscoE 2,876,554

SLOPER Filed April 19, 1957 s sheets-sheet :5

United States Patentl SLOPER Ernest V. Briscoe, Kerman, Calif.

Application April 19, 1957, Serial No. 653,829

2.Claims. (Cl. 37-155) This invention relates in general to tractor-mounted learth working implements, and in particular is directed to improvements in the implement shown in United States Patent No. 2,640,286, issued June 2', 1953, on Ditch Cleaner and Ridger.

This type of equipment is generally known in the trade as a tractor-mounted, sloper, and the purpose of such a v Another important object of the invention is to'provide l a sloper, as above, wherein such mount supports vthe blade unit in its working position; i. e., when in forwardly: and downwardly, outwardly inclined working position, for .-3 selective and independent adjustment of said blade unit v up or down, or laterally in or out, about a swivel at the s rear end of the unit, orvertically at said rear end; all to the end that such blade unit may be set to exactly lthe correct position to properly function in connection with the cleaning and gradingv of an inclined surface, such as a ditch bank.

Alfurther object of the invention isjto provide amount which permits the moldboard' or bladeunitf to be swung to an inoperative or non-working position above ground,

lengthwise of, and closely a1ongside,.the, tractor for transport from point to point.

It is also.. an object ofi the: invention to provide a sloper which is designed for ready manufacture, and convenience of installation on a tractor.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a practical, reliable, and durable sloper.v

These objects are accomplished by means of Vsuch structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the sloper as mounted; o n a motor grader; the moldboard or blade unit beingshown in full lines in its working position, and in dotted lines as raised alongside the tractor but before final lifting for transport.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the sloper as in use.

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the sloper showing,

in dotted lines, the moldboard or blade unit in its working position, and, in full lines, occupying the same position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation, partly in section, showing the moldboard as raised to its full transport position lengthwise of-and alongsidethe tractor in ground clearance relation.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse cross section on line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings', and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the sloper is here shown as attached to a motor grader, indicated generally at 1, and which earth working implement: is of the type which includes a wheel-type tractor 2, whose drive wheels are indicated at 3;4 there being a rigidi, forwardly projecting boom 4 supported, at the front, by an axle 5 carrying front wheels 6. A transverse grader blade 7 is adjustably suspended beneath the boom 4 in the usual manner.

The sloper, to which the present' invention is directed, comprises a horizontal mounting platform 8- which' is fixed to--and projects a distance rearwardly from-the tractor 2; such platform being secured to said tractor by any suitable means, such as bolting.

On one side of the mounting platform 8, rearwardly of the adjacent wheel 3, there is a laterally outwardly projecting attachment frame 9 pivoted, at its inner end, as at 10, to said side of the platform 8 at points spaced lengthwise of? the tractor.

As so secured to the platform ti the attachment'frame 9-is swingable up and down in a transverse vertical plane, such swinging motion being accomplished by the following means:

At its inner end the laterally outwardly projecting attachment frame 9 is fitted with a rigid upstanding post 11', anda double-acting power cylinder 12 extends transversely above the mounting platform 8 inwardly ofthe post 11; such power cylinder 12 includinga piston rodiy 13 whichsprojectsY toward the upper end of vsaid post I1, A beingY pivoted to the latter, as at`14. From theY upper' endof the post l1 the power cylinder 12 extends at 'ai' downward incline, and at the end opposite saidpost is. i the side; f.

pivoted, as at ul5', to said platform 8 adjacent remote from the attachment frame 9.

t The power cylinder 12 is included in ava'lve oon-r trolled, liuid pressure conduit system, indicatedonlyin partat 16, but which' is generally conventional. By

reversible operation of the cylinder 12 the. attachment frame 9fcan be' swung in. a-transverse vertical plane;` i.v e.,

A- up and down. See Figs. 3 and 4.

At its outer end the attachment' frame 9 is' provided with a fixed dependent'sleeve 17disposed atright angles to said framev` and extending a substantial distance therebelow; such sleeve carrying-dn:rotatablelbnt axially fixed relation-a spindle 18. The lower endf the spindlei projects out of the sleeve 17? andv is 'therepivotally connected, as at 19, in a1clevis 2tlv rigid the rearl end portion and on fthe'outside of an'A elongated `irloldbo'ard or blade unit 21.

The vblade unit 21 includes-"a`n elongated blade y22 hinged aty theback side'to afull-lengtl1f angle iron 23,

and on which angle iron the clevis Ztl is secured. An

arm 24 upstands from the base of the clevis 20, and an adjustable tie bolt 25 is connectedY between the upper end o fzthe arm 24 and the blade 22, whereby to set the working angle of said blade relative to the longitudinal angle item23. The hinge connection between the blade?. 22 and angle iron 23 is indicated at 26.

A post 27 is fixed in connection with, and upstands from, the outer end of the laterally outwardly projecting attachment frame 9, and a lift cable 23 is anchored .at onev end, as at 29, to the upper end of said post. 217.

Frornthe post 27 the lift cable 28 extends. forwardly' and thence about a direction-reversing sheavetimounted 3 the back side of the blade 22; such cylinder at its rear end being pivotally connected, at at 34, in connection with the angle iron 23 ahead of the clevis 20. The

.power cylinder 33 is reversibly actuated through the nected at one end to said hanger arm and thence extends upwardly and inwardly to a sheave 38 on the boom 4 adjacent the tractor 2. The cable 37, after turning about -the sheave 38, runs forwardly along the boom 4 and connects to a power driven winch, indicated generally at 39.

In use of the above described sloper the laterally outwardly projecting attachment frame 9 is set to a selected position by the power cylinder 12, and then the tension cable 37 is paid out to permit the elongated moldboard or blade unit 31 to assume a working position at a forward and downward outward incline from the rear;` the spindle 18 turning in the sleeve 17 and the lower end of said spindle pivoting in the clevis ,20.

Also, the power cylinder 33 is operated so lthat the lift cable 28 works to adjust said blade unit up or down, as desired.

With the moldboard'or blade unit thus set, and with said unit resting-for exampleon the wall 40 of a ditch bank 41 on the top 42 of which the motor grader is traveling, said blade unit functions to positively and accurately cut, clean, and grade such wall, with any excess material traveling upwardly on the blade 22 and delivering from the rear end of the latter onto the to 42 of the bank.

The material as so delivered, in a windrow, o'n the top 42 of the bank 41 is spread by a spoil wing 43 depending from a swing mount 44 adjustably maintained in fposition by a tie chain 45. The swing mount 44 projects rearwardly from the frame 9, while the chain 4S extends upwardly from the rear end of the swing mount 44 to an elevated anchor point rigid with the post 11.`

When it is desired to swing the elongated mold board or blade unit to a transport position disposed longitudinally along the side of the tractor 2 and above ground, the cables 28 and 37, particularly the latter, are shortened in their elective length until said blade unit 21 assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and in full lines in Fig. 3. The blade unit 21 is then disposed parallel to the ground, being subsequently lifted-while remainingparallel-by further shortening of the cables 28 and l37 and by swinging the frame 9 upwardly by the power cylinder. 12, to the position shown in Fig. 4. The lift-cables `28 and 37 are of course controlled by selective operation of the power cylinder 31 and the winch 39, respectively. i

outwardly projecting position by a suspension chain 48; the outer end of the stand-off bar 46 then being against the face of the blade 22 (see Fig. 4).

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as will substantially fulfill the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specication sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as dened by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired: i

l. A tractor-mounted sloper comprising an attachment frame mounted on and projecting laterally out from the tractor at the rear, an elongated blade unit adapted in use to extend forwardly and downwardly at an outward incline from adjacent the attachment frame, means pivotally connecting the unit at its rear end to the attachment frame under the same for swinging movement in a vertical plane, and means connected between the blade unit and said frame to so swing the same; the last named means comprising, with an upstanding post on the attachment frame at its laterally outer side, a cable secured on and extending forwardly and downwardly from the post, a sheave iixed on the back side of the blade unit intermediate its ends, the cable passing about the sheave from above and then extending rearwardly along the blade unit, and a hydraulic ram extending lengthwise of the blade unit and secured on the back side thereof and connected to the rear end of the cable.

2. A tractor-mounted sloper comprising an attachment frame mounted on and projecting laterally out from the tractor at the rear, an elongated blade unit adapted in useto extend forwardlyand downwardly at an outward incline from adjacent the attachment frame, means When the blade unit 21 is disposed in its transport attachment frame for vertical swinging movement and independent lateral swinging movement about such end whereby the blade unit may be raised when not in use to a substantially horizontal position parallel to and alongside the tractor, means between the tractor and blade unit to pull the blade unit laterally inward, and a stand-Dif bar mounted on the tractor in position to contact the blade unit intermediate its ends when raised and pulled laterally inward to such horizontal and parallel position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,987,729 Bash Ian. 15, 1935 2,312,255 Lowdermilk Feb.Y 23, 1943 2,589,104 Lindeman Mar. l1, 1952 2,640,286 Briscoe June 2, 1953 2,646,633 Jahn July 28, 1953 2,659,988 Braden et al Nov. 24, 1953 2,713,220 Muenchow July 19, 1955 

